Recipes/ Side Dish

Green Bean Casserole

Green Bean Casserole is a must make for the holidays. The casserole is creamy, delicious, and has the perfect crunch from the crispy onions. It’s the king of comfort food. It’s a perfect side dish for any holiday meal.  

Green-Bean-Casserole-2

I didn’t grow up eating green bean casserole as a kid. I first tried it when I got married and went to my husband’s family’s Christmas dinner…and boy did I love it. It took green beans to the next level and it complimented the dinner so well. It took years before I was able to get the recipe for that green bean casserole. I finally got a hold of the recipe and made it for a few years, then decided it was time for me to recreate the recipe.

It took many years to make it perfect. I am wiling to share the secret recipe, but you cannot tell anyone. Just kidding, feel free to share will all.

I knew I wanted to use fresh organic green beans instead of canned green beans. I wanted to make the condensed mushroom soup from scratch. Truth be told I am not a huge fan of canned food. I didn’t grow up eating canned food or food from a box. I think fresh food tastes much better. There are some exceptions, like canned tomatoes.

Green Beans for Green Bean Casserole

It was a challenge trying to replicate the texture of canned beans. I even ventured and tried different types of green beans. I can report back that French green beans do not work well in this dish. You also need to cook the green beans well to get the perfect texture. The best green beans to use are regular green beans (string beans). You need to cook them until tender, not al dente. Canned green beans are not crunchy they have a softer texture, to replicate that texture you need to cook them well.

Here is an informative guide for green beans.

Green-Beans

Homemade Condensed Cream of Mushroom Soup

Condensed Cream of Mushroom Soup from scratch is so good. You can make it into regular mushroom soup by adding more milk and serve it. Making the Condensed Cream of Mushroom Soup from scratch transforms the casserole. Don’t get me wrong, canned Condensed Cream of Mushroom Soup is tasty in the original recipe, but the soup made from scratch is a true game changer. It truly evolves the recipe.

Homemade-Condensed-Mushroom-Soup

Green Bean Casserole

Now, lets make this delicious casserole. Start by washing and cutting the fresh green beans into 2-inch pieces. If the green beans you bought have ends, make sure to first cut the ends. Then steam until tender. You can also boil them in water if you prefer. The green beans I have at my local grocery store have the ends already removed and they come in a bag. But you can buy loose green beans by the pound and cut the ends.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Place green beans, homemade condensed cream of mushroom, milk, salt, pepper, and half of the French’s original crispy fried onions in a large bowl and stir until combined. Adding the crispy fried onions inside the casserole will add extra flavor.  

Next, butter a 9X13 casserole dish and add the casserole mixture

Cook uncovered for an hour

Then spread on top the remaining crispy onions and cook for about 7-10 minutes uncovered. This will allow the onions to brown. And Voila! You got yourself a very delicious holiday side dish. Now, go and impress your guests.

Green-Bean-Casserole

Here is another delicious side dish, Honey Glazed Carrots.

Green-Bean-Casserole

Green Bean Casserole

Green Bean Casserole is a must make for the holidays. The casserole is creamy, delicious, and has the perfect crunch from the crispy onions. It’s the king of comfort food. It’s a perfect side dish for any holiday meal.
5 from 3 votes
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour 40 minutes
Course Side Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 15 people
Calories 170 kcal

Ingredients
  

Green Bean Casserole

  • 36 oz green beans cut into 2 inches – ends removed
  • homemade condensed cream of mushroom recipe above
  • 1.5 cups whole milk
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ¼ pepper
  • French’s original crispy fried onions 6 oz. – divided in half

Homemade Condensed Cream of Mushrooms

  • 4 tablespoon butter
  • 1 tablespoon thyme fresh – finely chopped – stems removed
  • 2 shallots finely chopped
  • 2 cups cremini mushrooms diced – small pieces
  • 1.5 cups chicken broth
  • 1.5 cups whole milk
  • ½ cup flour all-purpose flour
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions
 

Homemade Condensed Cream of Mushrooms

  • Place two tablespoons of butter into a large skillet under medium high heat. Once the butter has melted add the fresh thyme add the shallots. Cook the shallots until translucent, then add the mushrooms and cook until browned.
  • Once the mushrooms are browned add 2 tablespoons of butter and stir until melted. Then add the flour and stir for about 2-3 minutes. You want the flour to cook a bit. Slowly whisk in the milk and chicken broth. Then stir occasionally until it thickens. Add salt and pepper to taste. Set aside and let it cool. It will thicken as it cools down.

Green Bean Casserole

  • Start by washing and cutting the fresh green beans into 2-inch pieces. If the green beans you bought have ends, make sure to first cut the ends. Then steam until tender.
  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees
  • Place green beans, condensed cream of mushroom, milk, salt, pepper, and half of the French’s original crispy fried onions in a large bowl and stir until combined.
  • Butter a 9X13 casserole dish and add the casserole mixture
  • Cook uncovered for an hour
  • Then spread on top the remaining crispy onions and cook for about 7-10 minutes uncovered. This will allow the onions to brown.

Nutrition

Calories: 170kcalCarbohydrates: 16gProtein: 4gFat: 10gSaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 13mgSodium: 389mgPotassium: 286mgFiber: 2gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 662IUVitamin C: 11mgCalcium: 86mgIron: 1mg
Keyword casserole, Comfort Food, green beans, holiday meals, side dish
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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